Yoyetta psammitica Emery, Emery & Popple, 2025, sp. nov.

Yoyetta psammitica sp. nov. (Plates 2C–D, 3C–D, 4B, 5; Figs. 1, 2C–D, 6–9) Types. Holotype 1♂, Windamere Dam, Mudgee, NSW, 32 o 43’32’’S 149 o 46’19’’E, 8.i.2022, N. & D. Emery & C. Foster (EME0490 -017) (K624931, AM). Paratypes. NEW SOUTH WALES. 1♂ 1♀, same data as holotype, (EME0490-030, -031) (K.924932, K.924936, AM); 2♂, same location as holotype, 2.i.2022, S. & T. Corbin (EME0490-001 – 2; genitalia prep 490-1), 11♂ 1♀, same data as holotype (EME0490-003 – 014); 16♂ 2♀, same location as holotype, 8.i.2022, N. & D. Emery & C. Foster (EME0490-017 – 029; 032–035); 2♂, Goulburn R., nr Wollar, 32 o 19’43’’S 149 o 57’37’’E, 3.i.2022, T. Corbin (EME0490-036 – 7); 4♂, Cassilis rest area, NSW, 32 o 02’15’’S 149 o 56’01’’E, 6.i.2013, N. C. & D. Emery (EME0490-038 – 041; genitalia preps 490-3, 490-4); 3♂, same location, 15.xii, 2020, C. & D. Emery (EME0490- 042 – 044); 5♂, same location, 23.i.2023, D. Emery (EME0490-058 – 062); 1♂, Clandulla State Forest, 32 o 53’19’’S 149 o 56’37’’E, 7.i.2010, D. Emery & L. Popple (EME0490-045); 3♂ 2♀, Cooper Drive, Clandulla, 32 o 54’27’’S 149 o 49’00’’E, 26.xi.2020, D. Emery (EME0490-046 – 050; genitalia prep 490-5); 4♂ 1♀, same location, 15.i.2021, N. & D. Emery (EME0490-051 – 055); 1♂ 1♀, Bocoble, 32 o 47’31’’S 149 o 42’43’’E, 1050m, 11.xii.2021, H. Ottersdorf (EME0490-056 – 057); 1♂, Denman, 5.xi.2007, R. Chin (EME0490-058); 4♂, Whitegum Lookout, Warrumbungle NPk, 31 o 17’33’’S 149 o 02’20’’E, 16.xi.2013, N. & D. Emery (EME0717-059 – 062); 3♂, 14.xi.2013, N. & D. Emery (EME0490-063 – 065; genitalia prep 490-2); 1♂, same location, 12.i.2014, N., C. & D. Emery (EME0490-066); 1♂ 1♀, same location, 12.i.2014, N., C. & D. Emery, (EME0490-067 – 068; genitalia prep 490-6); 1♂, same location, 8.xii.2015, C. & D. Emery (EME0490-069); 2♂, same location, 5.xi.13, C. & D. Emery (EME0490-070 – 071); 1♀, same location, 8.xii.2015, N. & D. Emery (EME0490-072) (DE); 1♂, same location as previous, 14.xi.2013, N. &. D. Emery; 1♂, same data as previous, 30.xi.2013; 1♂, Cassilis rest area, NSW, 32 o 02’15’’S 149 o 56’01’’E, 6.i.2013, N. C. & D. Emery; 1♂, same location as previous, 15.xi.2020, C. & D. Emery; 1♂, Napolean Reef area via Bathurst, 33°26’20’’S 149°45’23’’E, 8.i.2010, Popple & Emery, open woodland; 2♂, same location as holotype, 2.i.2022, S. & T. Corbin (LWP); 2♂, same data as holotype (EME0490-015 – 6); 1♂, Glen Davis Rd. between Airly Creek Rd. and Pinegrove Rd., Capertee, NSW, 33°08’04’’S 150°04’04”E, 13.xii.2022, J. Poyitt, (HEMC490.001); 4♂, same location as holotype, 11.i.2023, J. Poyitt (HEMC490.004 – 007); 4♂, same location as holotype, 17.i.2023, J. Poyitt, (HEMC490.008 – 011) (JP). Other material. QUEENSLAND. 1♂, Carnarvon Stn, Homestd, 24.809°S 147.753°E, 747 m, 13.x.2014, J. Buchan, mv lamp, 37156, T199410; 1♀, Carnarvon Stn, nr homestead, 24.809°S 147.753°E, 747 m, 13.x.2014, B. Hawkins, hand collected, flowering flat, T199411; 1♂, Mt Moffatt NP, top shelter shed, 1000 m, 10–12.xii.1987, Monteith, Thompson, Yeates (QM). Distribution, habitat and seasonality. The majority of specimens of Yoyetta psammitica sp. nov. have been found along the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range in New South Wales from around Capertee and Wollemi National Park, north to around Merriwa and Cassilis and further northwest into the Warrumbungle Range National Park (NPk; Fig. 1). An isolated population also occurs in the Carnarvon Range in central Queensland. In New South Wales, this species appears to favour smooth barked eucalypts, particularly Eucalyptus cannonii (Capertee Stringybark) around Mudgee (Windamere Dam and northern Cudgegong River) and Clandulla (Fig. 2C–D). At Cassilis Park rest area on the Golden Highway, specimens are also attracted to narrow-leaved ironbark trees (E. crebra), while in the Warrumbungle NPk, they are often found on white gums (E. rossii). Individuals call in flight and while moving constantly around the tree trunks. Single populations are mostly present at Cassilis rest area and Windamere Dam, but at Clandulla and Bocoble, Y. psammitica sp. nov. co-occurs with Y. humphreyae, Yoyetta timothyi Emery, Emery & Popple and two additional undescribed Yoyetta species. In the Warrumbungle NPk, Y. psammitica sp. nov. cohabits with Y. humphreyae and Y. australicta Popple & Emery. Most specimens of Y. psammitica sp. nov. have been collected from mid-November to late-January. It has been noted that since 2015, two years after wildfires burnt out over 80% of Warrumbungle NPk, specimens of this species have been difficult to find, with those of Y. australicta and Y. humphreyae being much more common. The reason(s) for this change in prevalence is not clear. Etymology. The term “psammitica ” (adjective, “sandstone”) reflects the distribution of this species throughout the open sandstone woodlands of the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range of NSW and southern Queensland. Description of adult male (Plates 2C–D, 3C–D, 5A–D, G; Figs. 2C–D, 6) Head slightly narrower than the lateral margins of pronotum; mostly light to dark orange-brown with extensive black colouration between and surrounding the ocelli, sometimes meeting medial margins of eyes, a triangular orange-brown fascia with a base on the posterior border narrows to an apex midway between the ocelli; supra-antennal plates black, edged dull orange-brown around base of antennae; ocelli dull red; eyes dull red to light brown; postclypeus orange-brown dorsally with a black horizontal stripe along the anterior margin, ventral surface black with an orange medial line and orange coloration over half of lateral margins; anteclypeus shiny black; lorum black, gena black; rostrum reaching anterior margins of hind coxae, dark brown proximally, becoming dark brown to black distally; antennae black. Thorax mostly dark brown to black. Pronotum with a narrow orange-brown fascia along midline surrounded by black, resembling a vintage key lock; interior of pronotum orange to dark brown, with irregular black areas, especially along paramedian and lateral fissures and adjacent ridges, also bordering the lateral halves of the pronotal collar; pronotal collar black on anterior margin, orange-brown to dark brown over remainder. Mesonotum variably black with orange-brown intrusions; submedian and lateral sigilla black, intervening depressions orange-brown to dark brown; lateral margins sometimes orange-brown; scutal depressions black; cruciform elevation orange-brown, variably black along midline and into anterior depression, lateral depressions striated black transversely; wing grooves mainly dark orange-brown and black. Metanotum dark brown to black; black central “dot” with orange-brown ridges. Thorax below mainly orange-brown or dark brown. Legs brown with variable longitudinal orange-brown to black markings between specimens. Coxae about half orange-brown and black; fore femora with inner surface black but sometimes striped dark orange-brown, the outer surface predominantly dull orange-brown, femoral spines dark brown basally and black tipped, upright; mid and hind femora dark brown to black anteriorly, paler orange-brown posteriorly; fore tibiae dark brown; mid and hind tibiae orange-brown; tarsi orange-brown to brown; claws black; meracantha variably black on base around medial half, remainder pale cream-brown, reaching anterior margin of opercula. Wings with forewing costal margin orange-brown to dark orange-brown; venation generally dark brown to orange-brown; basal cell translucent, tinged orange; basal membranes orange; smoky infusions throughout a1–a8; infuscations of variable intensity along crossveins r and r-m on the majority of individuals. Hind wing venation dark brown; v-shaped plagas tinged orange-grey visible along veins 2a and 3a and within anal cells. Opercula (Plate 2D) variably black basally, plates pale yellow-brown, spatulate, curved medially, flexed ventrally, not meeting; approximately 1.5x larger than adjacent hind coxae. Timbals (Plate 2C) with five long ribs; ribs 1-4 attached to basal spur, separated ventrally and spanning the timbal membrane, rib 5 unattached, extending over central half of membrane; timbal plate with well developed, elongate dome bearing a distinct point of apodeme attachment near centre. Abdomen (Plate 3C–D) with tergite 1 orange centrally, with symmetrical, black diagonal striations posteriorly, black laterally; tergite 2 variably black along anterior third and laterally, becoming orange posteriorly, curved around outer margin of exposed timbals; tergites 3–7 predominantly pale orange-brown each with a distinct black mark on dorsal midline, this mark broadest on tergite 3 and equivalently narrower on tergites 4–7, tergites 3–5 sometimes also with a diffuse dark smudge on lateral sides; tergite 8 black over anterior half, tending dark orange-brown over remainder, with a black spot on lateral aspect; epipleurites orange, flexed ventrally. Sternite I orange-brown to black; sternite II orange with dark-brown to black areas medially and laterally; sternites III–VII pale orange-brown; sternite VIII darker orange-brown. Genitalia (Fig. 6) with pygofer black, upper lobe of moderate size with a broadly rounded apex, in ventral view angled medially (Fig. 6A); basal pygofer lobe small weakly developed, broadly rounded; median lobe of uncus enlarged, variably elongated with length around 1.0– 1.4mm, concave ventrally, in lateral view narrow basally, expanded around mid-length to its widest width, thereafter evenly tapering to a rounded apex with ratio of length from base divided by widest width ranging from 2.6–4.5; claspers robust, claw-like in lateral view (Fig. 6B), partially meeting, in ventral view their inner margins diverging with a “notch” around aedeagus and their outer margins gently turned outwards to a bluntly pointed apex; aedeagus recurved distally through 180 degrees with ornamentation distally from the recurvature, the vesica broadened and weakly toothed either side towards apical